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</font><font face="Trebuchet MS" size=3><b>AHP News - December 19, 2003 -
English translation (Unofficial)<br><br>
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</font><h5><b>The Chief of State appeals to all sectors of the country to
accept a political compromise to resolve the crisis<br>
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<br><br>
</b></h5><font face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><b>Port-au-Prince, December 19,
2003 -(AHP)-</b> President Jean Bertrand Aristide declared Thursday that
he is in favor of exploring more deeply the proposal made by last month
by the Haitian Conference of Bishops (CEH) as a way out of the crisis.
<br><br>
The Chief of State, speaking on national television, declared that he
sees in this proposal an opportunity to facilitate a compromise among the
various sectors in conflict.<br><br>
Mr. Aristide favors dialogue between the government, the Group of 184,
the Democratic Convergence and Fanmi Lavalas to reach a political
compromise which he said is indispensable for resolving the crisis.
<br><br>
He issued an appeal for dialogue to the intellectuals of Haiti in order,
he said, to identify together all that might compromise the health of the
country's democracy and all that might contribute to its economic growth.
<br><br>
While he declared his respect for the choice of those who do not wish to
take part in the celebration of national independence, he nevertheless
deemed it important that dialogue be engaged so as to flesh out the
problems. <br><br>
No single person can save Haiti, hence the necessity of coming together
in order to do so, he declared. <br><br>
The president also denounced what he termed a campaign of disinformation
and denigration orchestrated against the government and the country.
<br><br>
Me. Aristide warned that this campaign wrongs not only the authorities
but also the country and Haitians in general. <br><br>
He expressed confidence that despite this campaign of disinformation and
defamation, the truth will eventually shine through.<br><br>
Concerning the socio-political situation, the Chief of State once again
condemned the violence of December 5th at the Faculty of Social Sciences
and at INAGHEI, when students clashed with members of populist
organizations.<br><br>
He noted, however, that there is a distinct difference between the
student movement and the action of politicians who are exploiting the
student movement in an attempt to take power. <br><br>
Jean Bertrand Aristide said he understands the position of the young
university students who would like to see a rapid change take place in
the country, by reason of their critical faculties and their heartfelt
beliefs. <br><br>
"These young students have not experienced the Duvalier
dictatorships. It is completely normal that they should be unable to see
the difference between a dictatorial regime and the difficult situation
in which Haiti currently finds herself. <br><br>
"We must understand them and accompany them", declared the
Chief of State.<br><br>
Under the presidency for life of the Duvaliers from 1957 to 1986, all
freedoms were suspended. There was only one political party. Any attempt
to give birth to new political currents was drowned in blood. <br><br>
Those who refused to accept the fait accompli were dispatched to Fort
Dimanche (The Fort of Death) or more commonly they were simply executed.
The more fortunate ones were sent into exile.<br><br>
The majority of the media was forced to take refuge by addressing the
politics of others. Because to criticize the authorities was out of the
question. <br><br>
An almost identical situation was the rule during the period of the
military coup d'Etat led by Raoul Cédras (from 1991-1994).<br><br>
<br>
</font><h5><b>AHP December 19, 2003 10:30 AM <br><br>
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The Democratic Convergence and the group of 184 reject President
Aristide's appeal for dialogue and persist in their strategy of taking
power<br>
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</b></h5><font face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><b>Port-au-Prince, December 19,
2003 -(AHP)-</b> The Democratic Convergence stated Friday that in its
estimation no dialogue aiming toward a political compromise is
possible with President Aristide.<br><br>
A spokesperson for the political coalition, Micha Gaillard, said that one
can not engage in dialogue with someone who does not respect his
commitments.<br><br>
According to Mr. Gaillard, the Democratic Convergence is in favor of
applying those points in the Haitian Conference of Bishops' proposal for
resolving the crisis that it judges to be positive, but without, he said,
Aristide being president of the country. <br><br>
He said that the priority is for mobilization to obtain the departure of
the President of the Republic and then replacing him with a judge from
the Court of Cassation. <br><br>
For his part, a spokesperson from the Group of 184, Jessie Benoît, also a
member of the Convergence, called the latest statements by President
Aristide regarding the Haitian Bishops Conference proposal for
resolving the crisis "a media show".<br><br>
According to the wife of CONACOM leader Victor Benoît, the adoption of
this position by the president is intended for international consumption.
<br><br>
Jessi Benoît declared that from this point on, the course is set for
mobilization to oust the elected authorities. <br><br>
Followers of the so-called December 15th resolution who are also calling
for the taking of power have said that they don't want to hear another
word about the proposal of the Haitian Conference of Bishops (CEH).
<br><br>
One of the advocates of this resolution, Turneb Delpé, declared that what
counts above all is the ouster of the president. <br><br>
According to Turneb Delpé, the new political coalition directed by
business leader André Apaid Junior is preparing to present a new
alternative with respect to governing the country after the departure of
President Aristide. <br><br>
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</font><h5><b>Some members of Parliament call on the Convergence and the
Group of 184 to seize the opportunity for dialogue that is offered
to them<br>
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<br><br>
</b></h5><font face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><b>Port-au-Prince, December 19,
2003 -(AHP)-</b>The Deputy from Trou du Nord, Rudy Hérivaux, said
Thursday that all who believe that they can take power through a coup
d'Etat have gone off the track. <br><br>
Mr. Hérivaux, reacting to the position taken publicly by the members of a
group called the December 15, 2002 Operation, declared that it is in the
group's interest to respond to the appeal for dialogue issued by
President Aristide if they do indeed wish to make a pragmatic
contribution to ending the crisis. <br><br>
According to Rudy Hérivaux, any attempt at a coup d'Etat against
President Aristide and the population is destined for failure because
President Aristide is the the most popular leader in the country.
<br><br>
The Deputy from La Gonave, Gilvert Angervil, asked the opposition to
seize the opportunity offered to it through the call to dialogue issued
by the Chief of State. <br><br>
The member of Parliament considered that President Aristide demonstrated
high-mindedness and patriotism by extending his hand, he said, to the
opposition and the Group of 184. <br><br>
Gilvert Angervil asked the leaders of the opposition to renounce option
zero and to work in favor of the rule of law in the country.<br><br>
He expressed hope that the Group of 184 would cease the political
turbulence it has supported for the past several weeks in order to begin
a serious dialogue with the government about the country's true problems.
<br><br>
<br>
</font><h5><b>AHP December 19, 2003 12:20 PM
</b></h5><font size=3 color="#FF0000">The Freedom Archives<br>
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